New Disaster Nurse for health department

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Just got a job offer and needed some advice. I have been a nurse off and on for 10+ years with experience in the hospital(old experience) school nursing, ambulatory care, pediatrics, dermatology, jail and occupational nursing.

This new job wants to pay me $12 less per hour than my last contract job. It is amazingly low. It is a "why am I taking this job?" kind of low. It would be in the disaster area of community health and possible chronic disease thrown in. The pros are normal 8.5 hour days and no holidays. It's flexible as it is contract and no benefits. It really seems to be an awful offer but with little stress. My husband says it could lead to better interesting jobs with the county in the future. Am I selling myself short here? Yes the work is interesting and probably pretty easy, but sheesh, the terrible pay??? It's in a more rural area as well.

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Specializes in ER.

I'm working in a health dpt. It is probably as low stress as nursing gets. People in my dpt stay until they retire. Some come back prn after that! I think it depends on what you want out of a job. I'm pretty happy with mine. Sometimes I miss the pay and pace of the hospital. Most days I'm just thankful to wake up and not have to worry about what kind of day I will have. And to have a predictable schedule.

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Hi Rizz,

Thanks so much for your reply. I really appreciated your input. It was helpful. I talked them into a 4 day a week job as I truly just wanted part time. This should be interesting. It's good to know people want to stay. I wonder if I will miss a quicker pace as well. The nurse who hired me was pretty convincing. She sold me. It also seems to be a nice group of people to work with. I sort of like the predictability(except for the disasters of course). Commute won't be bad and its a rural area, small town feel, all of which I like. Plus I can walk out at days end, and even have an actual lunch where I can leave the premises and take a break, a walk etc. Yes, there is lower pay but I doubt it will be quite so hectic. Any advice for a new HD nurse?

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Specializes in ER.

Congrats! Not sure i have any advice! Just enjoy the ride :)

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